Sven in shock bid for Bianchi

Eriksson is lining up an £8.8m deal for Rolando Bianchi, 24, whose 18 goals made him the fourth-highest scorer in Serie A last year and helped keep unfashionable Reggina up by a single point.

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City slicker: Rolando Bianchi

City fans have already despaired of another Italian, Bernardo Corradi, who is likely to leave after a poor year. But Italy Under 21 striker Bianchi, who has also attracted interest from Liverpool, will arrive with a reputation as one of the hottest prospects in Serie A.

Reggina president Pasquale Foti said: "We have reached a preliminary agreement with Manchester City for the permanent transfer of Rolando Bianchi in a deal worth 13m euros."

Eriksson's outlay on Bianchi would still leave him looking for another quality striker, though he would have to spend a similar amount to prise fellow Swede Johan Elmander, 26, from Toulouse, who have already rejected a £7m bid from Lyon.

Paraguay striker Roque Santa Cruz remains a target, even though Blackburn — with their promise of European football — are also keen on the £4.4mrated Bayern Munich player.

Another Swede on his way to Eastlands after Hans Backe's arrival as Eriksson's No 2 could be Nantes' 27-year-old midfielder Christian Wilhelmsson, who would set City back around £2m.

City fans have been assured that Thaksin Shinawatra's near-complete £82m takeover will not be derailed by the Thai government's move to freeze more of their new owner's assets.

Thaksin will not return to Bangkok next month to face corruption charges in court and any move to extradite the toppled prime minister is unlikely to succeed.

Prosecutors claim Thaksin could face 10 years in jail if found guilty over his wife's controversial £12m land purchase in Thailand.

If Shinawatra were to be convicted, he could in theory be forced by the Premier League to give up control of Manchester City under the 'fit and proper persons' test.